Breadcrumb

The Death Penalty Worldwide

Afghan death penalty Source: AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini

According to Amnesty International, as of July 2015, 101 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes in law, while 140 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. At least 607 executions were carried out worldwide in 2014, a decrease of almost 22% compared to the figures recorded for 2013. Executions were recorded in 22 countries in 2014, the same number as 2013. This is a significant decrease from 20 years ago in 1995, when there were executions in 42 countries, highlighting the clear global trend of states moving away from the death penalty. Three countries have signed treaties to abolish the death penalty, but not have not yet ratified them: Angola, Madagascar, Sao Tome and Principe. See alsoU.S. Figures.

Death Penalty Outlawed (year)1

Albania (2000)

Andorra (1990)

Angola (1992)

Argentina (2008)

Armenia (2003)

Australia (1984)

Austria (1950)

Azerbaijan (1998)

Belgium (1996)

Bolivia (2009)

Bhutan (2004)

Bosnia-Herzegovina (1997)

Bulgaria (1998)

Burundi (2009 )

Cambodia (1989)

Canada (1976)

Cape Verde (1981)

Colombia (1910)

Cook Islands (2007)

Costa Rica (1877)

Cí´te d'Ivoire (2000)

Croatia (1990)

Cyprus (1983)

Czech Republic (1990)

Denmark (1933)

Djibouti (1995)

Dominican Republic (1966)

Ecuador (1906)

Estonia (1998)

Finland (1949)

France (1981)

Gabon (2010)

Georgia (1997)

Germany (1949)

Greece (1993)

Guinea-Bissau (1993)

Haiti (1987)

Honduras (1956)

Hungary (1990)

Iceland (1928)

Ireland (1990)

Italy (1947)

Kyrgyzstan (2007)

Kiribati (1979)

Latvia (2012)

Liechtenstein (1987)

Lithuania (1998)

Luxembourg (1979)

Macedonia (1991)

Malta (1971)

Marshall Islands (1986)

Mauritius (1995)

Mexico (2005)

Micronesia (1986)

Moldova (1995)

Monaco (1962)

Montenegro (2002)

Mozambique (1990)

Namibia (1990)

Nepal (1990)

Netherlands (1870)

New Zealand (1961)

Nicaragua (1979)

Niue (n.a.)

Norway (1905)

Palau (n.a.)

Panama (1903)

Paraguay (1992)

Philippines (2006)

Poland (1997)

Portugal (1867)

Romania (1989)

Rwanda (2007)

Samoa (2004)

San Marino (1848)

Sí£o Tomé and Prí­ncipe (1990)

Senegal (2004)

Serbia (2002)

Seychelles (1993)

Slovakia (1990)

Slovenia (1989)

Solomon Islands (1966)

South Africa (1995)

Spain (1978)

Sweden (1921)

Switzerland (1942)

Timor-Leste (1999)

Togo (2009)

Turkey (2002)

Turkmenistan (1999)

Tuvalu (1978)

Ukraine (1999)

United Kingdom (1973)

Uruguay (1907)

Uzbekistan (2008)

Vanuatu (1980)

Vatican City (1969)

Venezuela (1863)

Death Penalty Outlawed for Ordinary Crimes2 (year)

Brazil (1979)

Chile (2001)

El Salvador (1983)

Fiji (1979)

Israel (1954)

Kazakhstan (2007)

Peru (1979)

De Facto Ban on Death Penalty3 (year)4

Algeria (1993)

Benin (1987)

Brunei (1957)

Burkina Faso (1988)

Cameroon (1997)

Central African Republic (1981)

Congo (Republic) (1982)

Eritrea (n.a.)

Ghana (n.a.)

Grenada (1978)

Kenya (n.a.)

Korea, South (1997.)

Laos (n.a.)

Liberia (n.a.)

Madagascar (1958)

Malawi (n.a.)

Maldives (1952)

Mali (1980)

Mauritania (1987)

Mongolia (2012)

Morocco (1993)

Myanmar (1993)

Nauru (1968)

Niger (1976)

Papua New Guinea (1950)

Russia (1999)

Sierra Leone (1998)

Sri Lanka (1976)

Suriname (1982)

Swaziland (n.a.)

Tajikistan (n.a.)

Tanzania (n.a.)

Tonga (1982)

Tunisia (1990)

Zambia (n.a.)

Death Penalty Permitted

Afghanistan

Antigua and Barbuda

Bahamas

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belarus

Belize

Botswana

Chad

China (People's Republic)

Comoros

Congo (Democratic Republic)

Cuba

Dominica

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Ethiopia

Gambia

Guatemala

Guinea

Guyana

India

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Jamaica

Japan

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Lesotho

Libya

Malaysia

Nigeria

North Korea

Oman

Pakistan

Palestinian Authority

Qatar

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Lucia

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Syria

Taiwan

Thailand

Trinidad and Tobago

Uganda

United Arab Emirates

United States

Vietnam

Yemen

Zimbabwe

NOTE: n.a. = date not available. 1. If death penalty was outlawed for ordinary crimes before it was outlawed in all cases, the earlier date is given.

2. Death penalty is permitted only for exceptional crimes, such as crimes committed under military law or in wartime.

3. Death penalty is sanctioned by law but has not been the practice for ten or more years.